172nd Anniversary of the Passing of Ba'al 'Bas Ayin'

Sunday marked the beginning of the 172nd anniversary of the passing of Rabbi Avraham Dov Auerbach of Avritch, also known as Ba'al "Bas Ayin". Masses of hasidim are expected to visit his grave in Tzfat to pray for the salvation of Israel between Sunday evening and Monday evening. Rabbi Elimelech Biderman is scheduled to lead a particular prayer session between 23:30 and 3:00 a.m.

According to the Website of the Ascent Institute in Tzfat, Rabbi Auerbach studied from Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditschev and the first two Chernobyl rebbes, before spending 40 years as a rabbi in Europe and 10 in Tzfat. According to one tale, those who gathered around him were saved from death in the earthquake that hit Tzfat in 5597 (1837 C.E.). Rabbi Auerbach perished in an epidemic about three years later. His prediction that he would be the last to die of the plague proved true.